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Company Information

ARA is an employee-owned company dedicated to producing innovative solutions in a timely and cost effective manner. Our success stems directly from our Operating Principles:

Technical excellence

Responsiveness

Effective communication

Strong fiscal and schedule control

Client confidentiality

Certifications

ARA has invested in the following certifications to ensure the proficiency of our staff, improve efficiency, and provide the best service to our clients in meeting their quality requirements.

CMMI® Maturity Level 3 Appraised

ARA’s Southeast Division is appraised at CMMI Level 3 for Development (CMMI®-DEV), version 1.3, for all major software programs. CMMI®-DEV characterizes a set of best practices that encompass the full product development lifecycle, from inception through delivery and sustainment performance. The independent appraisal was conducted using the Standard CMMI® Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI).

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

ISO 9001:2015 is an international standard for requirements of quality management systems developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The ISO 9001 standards provide guidance and tools for ensuring products and services consistently meet customer requirements and quality is consistently improved.

How to Become an ARA Supplier

As a former small business, ARA is committed to working with vendors in the communities in which we are located. ARA welcomes new opportunities to team with suppliers and subcontractors and strives to create long-term, mutually rewarding relationships.

Supplier Administration

When we anticipate working with subcontractors, consultants, agents, or representatives that will be engaged in sales to foreign entities, where “foreign” means outside the United States, there are precautions we need to take.

Foreign Corrupt Practices Act

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) prohibits corrupt payments through intermediaries. This means it is unlawful to make a payment to a third party, while knowing that all or a portion of the payment will go directly or indirectly to a foreign official for the purpose of influencing the recipient to secure for ARA an improper advantage in obtaining business with the foreign government.

To avoid being held liable for corrupt third-party payments, we must exercise due diligence and take all necessary precautions to ensure that we have formed business relationships with reputable and qualified partners and representatives.

An FCPA Supplier Compliance Questionnaire and ARA FCPA Certification to be used for this purpose are posted on this page.

Non-Discrimination Compliance

ARA complies with the regulations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended and other non-discrimination laws and authorities that include regulations relative to non-discrimination in federally assisted programs of the Department of Transportation (DOT) Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Federal Highway Administration's Title 23 Code of Federal Regulation 200. ARA does not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age or disability in the selection and retention of subconsultants, including procurements of materials and leases of equipment.

Supplier Terms and Conditions

Small Business Program

As a U.S. Government contractor, ARA is committed to working with small business. We offer a range of opportunity. Through our small business program, we continually work to build a diverse group of suppliers and technical partners to enhance our capabilities in order to better serve our customers' needs.

ARA complies with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Certification guidelines. To determine whether you qualify as a small business, please refer to the SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards, which is based on the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) definitions. Size Standards information is available from SBA at: https://www.sba.gov/contracting/getting-started/size-standards.

If you are a HUB Zone small business, you must be certified through the SBA in order for ARA to be in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR). To apply for certification, applications are available from SBA at: http://www.sba.gov/content/applying-hubzone-program.

If you are a Small Business ― including Woman-Owned, Veteran-Owned, or Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned ― you can self-certify your business size.

To be included in our Vendor Database, complete and submit the ARA Self-Size Certification form (for U.S. Organizations) or the NON-US Entity form (For organizations located outside of the United States) in its entirety. Completed forms can be emailed to sblo@ara.com or faxed to 1-866-684-0376. ARA employees are responsible for providing opportunities to small businesses and will access our system based on key information to search for sources when new requirements arise. Please ensure that the certification form for your company is complete. Visit the ARA website at least once per year or when your status changes to update your records.

Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct

Ethics Philosophy

Long-term successful personal and professional relationships depend upon honesty and trustworthiness. ARA has historically promulgated two fundamental principles that underpin our fundamental philosophy on ethics. The first is that ARA insists on "frank, open, and ethical dealings with each other, with our clients, and with our subcontractors." This statement implies, and herein is explicitly broadened, to encompass all organizations and individuals with which we interact and/or do business, including all auditors, auditing agencies, and the communities in which our staff and offices reside. The second principle is that ARA insists on "corporate and individual acceptance of responsibility." The word "individual" includes management and staff. If problems with our conduct and/or performance arise, we honestly admit our failings, deal with them, and fix them. We do not cover up problems nor do we tolerate those who might try to do so.

Ethics Responsibilities

The Board of Directors has affirmed ARA's commitment to ethical principles and behavior and has directed management to assure that strong ethical requirements permeate the ARA culture.

Management at all levels are responsible for reinforcing ARA's dedication to ethical conduct and must create a work environment that supports ARA's ethical principles. Managers will ensure a workplace that is free of harassment, that is safe and healthy, and that is drug and alcohol free. The actions and conduct of managers will represent ethical principles through their day-to-day behavior and decisions. They will train their staff in ethics requirements and they will deal fairly and forthrightly with ethical issues. Retaliation for suspected ethical violations, reported in good faith, is forbidden.

All ARA employees and directors will receive annual Ethics and Standards of Conduct training. New employees will receive this training within one month of hire date.

Staff at all levels is responsible for understanding ethics requirements, abiding by them, and reporting breaches to person(s) designated in this policy.

Some Specific Requirements

Ethical behavior means behavior based on right or good conduct. Ethical behavior should cover every aspect of the lives of ARA management and staff but, specifically, ethical behavior must be observed in every aspect of ARA's activities including dealings within the company, with clients, with advisors, with subcontractors and suppliers, with all government agencies that maintain oversight on our activities, and with the communities in which our offices reside.

Some specific areas that demand ethical conduct include:

Integrity in accounting and contracting including timely and accurate allocation of labor and other costs to appropriate project and indirect accounts.

Full, accurate, and timely disclosure of financial, accounting, and other data as required by oversight organizations, financial institutions, the Board of Directors, and other affected authorized parties.

Avoidance of conflicts of interest between personal and professional interests including avoidance of conflicts between outside ownership or employment and ARA interests.

Avoidance of acceptance and/or granting of gratuities of significant value with the purpose or appearance of influencing decisions or being influenced.

Maintaining confidentiality on information entrusted to individuals by ARA or its customers or its suppliers, except when authorized.

Safeguarding property, both physical and intellectual, of ARA, its clients, and suppliers from theft, loss, and/or misuse.

ARA also has a written policy on Anti-Harassment which specifically forbids sexual harassment and provides complaint procedures.

Standards of Conduct

Federal law requires that transactions related to the expenditure of public funds be conducted in a manner above reproach and with complete impartiality. Government contractors are expected to maintain high standards of conduct. While the general rule is to avoid any action that could create a perception of dishonesty or preferential treatment, our Government contracts set forth a number of specific prohibitions and restrictions. These are identified in the attachment along with applicable statutory or regulatory references. Any question or request for guidance in a particular situation should be referred to the Vice President, Contracts.

Government contractors are required to adopt standards of conduct and to establish internal controls and self-policing to ensure that operations are conducted with the highest degree of integrity and honesty. The internal control system shall establish standards and procedures to facilitate timely discovery of improper conduct and ensure corrective measures are promptly and appropriately executed.

Reporting Suspected Improper Conduct

Reports should be made to any supervisor, manager, principal, the ARA Compliance Officer, to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, or to ARA's independent internal auditors via ARA's internal fraud and abuse hotline (telephone number listed on the ARA Intranet). The poster for the Department of Defense hotline for reporting fraud, waste, and abuse is located on ARA office bulletin boards as well as on the ARA Intranet. Any report will be treated on a confidential basis.

ARA will make timely reports to Government officials of any credible evidence that a principal, employee, or subcontractor has committed a violation of law or other irregularity in connection with Government contracts and will fully cooperate in any subsequent investigations. Any corrective actions will be promptly carried out.

Personal Conflict of Interest – 18 U.S.C. 201 – Prohibits Government employees from using public office for personal gain or providing preferential treatment to anyone.

Organizational Conflict of Interest – Public Law 100-463 – Prohibits a contractor from obtaining an unfair competitive advantage as a result of technical assistance or proprietary data provided to the Government.

Procurement Integrity Violations – 41 U.S.C. 423 – Generally includes offers of future employment or gratuities to a Government official in an attempt to influence, or soliciting proprietary or source selection sensitive information from a Government official.

Lobbying & Campaign Contribution Restrictions – 2 U.S.C. 4441 – Government contractors are prohibited from making contributions to any campaign for federal office.

Payment of Appropriated Funds to Influence Federal Transactions – 31 U.S.C. 1352 – Using appropriated contract or grant funds in an attempt to influence Government officials is prohibited.

Whistleblower Protection for Contractor Employees – 10 USC 2409 – Government contractors shall not discharge, demote, or discriminate against an employee as a reprisal for reporting a violation of law related to a contract.

Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct – FAR 52.203-13 – Contractors shall properly prevent, detect, and report criminal behavior, implement a written ethics and standards of conduct program, and institute suitable compliance programs and internal control systems to ensure good business ethics are enforced.